Spray apparatus for applying coatings



April 3, 1962 H. A. BALL 3,027,869

SPRAY APPARATUS FOR APPLYING coATINGs Filed Jan. ll, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY April 3, 1962 H. A. BALL 3,027,369

SPRAY APPARATUS FOR APPLYING COATINGS Filed Jan. ll, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet2 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY Jg/@gy April 3, 1962 H.'A. BALL 3,027,869

SPRAY APPARATUS FOR APPLYING COATINGS Filed Jan. 11, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet3 22 J 36 'l J 35 N T- IZZZ 39 3 @i IWW 36V.

l\ Y 32 f 4 34 33 30 3] INVENTOR 27 /-wey 5ML April 3, 1962 H. A. BALL3,027,869

SPRAY APPARATUS FOR APPLYING COATINGS Filed Jan. 11, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet4 .Fig K INVENTOR BY gv/ ATTORNEY States Unite vania Filed Jan. 11,1957, Ser. No. 633,602 12 Claims. (Cl. 118-316) This invention pertainsto apparatus for applying coatings to objects. More particularly, thisinvention relates to mechanically controlled apparatus for radiallyapplying thin film-forming compositions, attenuated by a volatilecarrying liquid, to objects without the use of air.

Certain of the apparatus and methods in prior use for radially applyingcoating compositions to objects have comprised ooding the coatingcomposition on the object by direct mechanical, or electrostaticmethods, and mechanically wiping or air wiping the object to spread thecoating composition and remove the excess. This practice resulted innon-uniform applications and waste of the coating composition. Incertain of the apparatus and methods in prior use it has been thepractice to collect and reuse the excess coating composition. Thecontamination of the coating composition resulting therefrom causedvariations in the quality of the coating and ultimately rendered thecoating composition unusable. In many instances, it was previouslynecessary to enclose the spraying apparatus with a tank or shield toprevent the dissemination of over-spray and to collect the excesscoating material, thereby rendering the apparatus unwieldy andadjustment diicult.

Certain other apparatus and methods in prior use for applying coatingcompositions to objects have comprised the use of air to accomplish theatomization of the coating composition. This practice has resulted in anuncontrollable and wasteful over-spray and a premature oxidation of thecoating composition caused by the excess air.

Therefore, one object of this invention, which constitutes animprovement over my inventions disclosed in my copending applications,Serial Nos. 514,255 and 514,- 271, now abandoned, is to provide aneconomical means of radially applying a thin, uniform coating to objectswith the speed required in production line methods. A further object ofthis invention is to reduce Waste or loss of the coating composition toa minimal amount. A further object of this invention is to eliminate thenecessity for wiping the object after the application of the coating. Astill further object of this invention is to eliminate the excess airfrom the coating composition and to reduce premature oxidation thereby.Further and additional objects will appear from the followingdescription and the appended claims.

Briey to describe the primary features of a coating apparatus embodyingmy invention, I provide a housing which is basically in the shape of ahollow multi-lateral truncated pyramid, having a base and top plate, ineach of which there is a circular opening centered on the longitudinalaxis of the said housing. A rotatable, mechanically controlled nozzleassembly is mounted on each of the sides of the said housing so that thelongitudinal axis of each nozzle assembly is perpendicular to the planeof the side upon which it is mounted. Each of the said rotatable nozzlesis identical and capable of projecting a flat pattern spray of the typewell known in the airless spray painting art. The individual nozzleassemblies comprise a casing having inlets and outlets therein for thecoating composition, so that the coating composition may be conductedthrough the supply system to each nozzle assembly in series. In one formof apparatus embodying my invention, the separate nozzle assemblies areconnected through Vexible conduits for conducting the tnt said coatingcomposition, thereby permitting the nozzle assemblies to be rotatedWithout restriction. In this form of apparatus, the rotation of thenozzle assemblies is accomplished manually and each assembly is lockedin a position such that each ilat spray, so twisted, will eflicientlycoat its assigned area of the object to be coated. The said manualrotation of the individual nozzle assemblies is quickly and easilyaccomplished by means of a lift-pin locking type handle which seats inpre-positioned receptacles in a iixed base. This innovation of rotatablenozzles adds versatility to the apparatus embodying my invention, inthat it makes possible the eflicient, economical coating of objectsthrough a Widely variable size range without the necessity for changingthe size of the spray housing apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings,

FIG. lI is an elevational view of one form of my coating apparatus.

FIG. II is a partial cross-sectional View through the coating apparatusshown in FIG. I and taken in the plane of section line II-II of FIG. I.

FIG. I'II is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the rotatablenozzle assemblies of my coating apparatus and taken in the plane ofsection line III- III of FIG. II.

FIG. IV is a cross-sectional view through one type of the rotatableassemblies used in my coating apparatus and taken in the plane ofsection line IV-IV of FIG. II.

FIG. V is a partial cross-sectional view through the rotating andlocking pin assembly on one type of the rotable nozzle assemblies usedin my coating apparatus and taken in the plane of section line V-V ofFIG. III.

`FIG. Vl is a cross-sectional view through still another form ofrotatable nozzle assembly used in my coating apparatus shown without themechanical operative means in position, and taken in the plane ofsection line VI-VI of FIG. VII.

FIG. VI'I is an elevational View of the form of rotatable nozzleassembly shown in fFIG. VI and is taken in the plane of section lineVII- VII of FIG. VI Without the mechanical operative means in position.

FIG. VIII is an elevational view of my coating apparatus in operationwith the nozzle assemblies rotated to a position to present a broadspray cloud for coating a relatively large object, A, shown in positionfor coating.

FIG. IX is an elevational view of my coating apparatus in operation withthe nozzle assemblies rotated to a position to present a narrow spraycloud for coating a relatively small object, B, shown in position forcoating.

The numeral 1 indicates a housing which is shown as a hollow six-sidedtruncated pyramid in -this embodiment of my coating apparatus. The plate2 partially encloses one end of the housing 1 while plate 3 partiallyencloses the other end. A plurality of nozzle assemblies 4, comprisingbasically a casing 5, mechanical operative means 6, nozzle 7 of the atspray type, and rotating and locking means, are mounted on the sides ofthe housing 1. The rotating and locking means employed in thisembodiment of my invention consists in a yoke 8 rigidly engaged to thecasing 5 by means of screws 9', a spring activated pall or handle 11threaded into a receptacle in the yoke 8, and a locking plate 12 in theform of a circular arc and having disposed therein a plurality of holes13 for engaging the pall 11 in pre-determined positions, therebyregulating the rotation of lthe several nozzle assemblies. The lockingplate 12 is rigidly engaged to the base plate 14 by screws 15, and thesaid base plate 14 is rigidly engaged to the housing 1, therebydisposing the nozzle 7 inwardly into the housing 1 through holes in thesides thereof. The internal structure of the nozzle assemblies consistsin a chamber 17 in casing 5 having an inlet 18 and an outlet 19 thereinfor coating material and a valve seat 20 which cooperates with themechanical operative means 6 to interrupt the flow of the coatingmaterial to the nozzle 7 which communicates with the said valve seat 20.The entire nozzle assembly is rotatably held in place by a lock ring 21cooperating with the base plate 14.

In FIGURES VI and VII, a different form of nozzle assembly which I haveused in my coating apparatus is shown.k In this nozzle assembly thecasing 22 is much the same in structure as casing 5, that is, comprisingan internal chamber 23 having an inlet 24 and outlet 25 for coatingmaterial and ay valve seat 26 which cooperates with mechanical operativemeans (not shown on the drawings but similar to operative means 6i) tointerrupt `the flow of coating material to the nozzle 27. However, inthis form of nozzle assembly, the casing 22 is nonrotatably held by thebracket 28 which is rigidly engaged to the base plate 29.. The nozzle 27is non-rotatably engaged to the nozzle base 30 by means of a special capnut 31, and this sub-assembly is non-rotatably engaged to the nozzlemounting 32 by means of a cap nut 33 and a locking pin 34. A circulargear 35 is non-rotatably engaged to the nozzle mounting 32 andcooperates with worm gear 35 which is rotatably `mounted on the baseplate 29 by brackets 37 and 38. The worm gear 36 is rigidly attached todrive shaft 39 which may be connected by universal joints (not shown) orflexible shafts (not shown) toeach next adjacent nozzle assembly driveshaft. The entire nozzle assembly is enga-ged to the base plate 29 bymeans of bracket 28 and lock ring 40, and the base plate 29 is rigidlymounted on the housing 1 in the same manner as heretofore described withregard to the other form of nozzle assembly, the nozzle 27 thereby beingdisposed inwardly into the housing 1. It is obvious that a rotation ofdrive shaft 39 and worm gear 36 will cause rotation of the nozzlesub-assembly basically comprising nozzle 27, nozzle base 30, nozzlemounting 32, and circular gear 35; whereas the casing 22 is not rotatedthereby. This arrangement facilitates the connection of conductive meansfor coating material to the inlet 24 and outlet 2S, in that, rigidconduit may be used for the said conductive means, whereas in the typedisclosed previously, flexible conduit must be used so as to permitrotation of the entire assembly. Whichever conduit is employed in theparticular embodiment of my invention, the general arrangement thereofis depicted in FIG'. l and is designated with the numeral 45.

The coating composition contemplated for the proper functioning of mycoating apparatus comprises a {ilmforming material attenuated by avolatile carrying liquid which is introduced from the supply system intothe several nozzle assemblies at a temperature of from 100 to 200 F. andunder mechanical pressure of from 300 to 50() pounds per square inch.The nozzle orice is restricted in size so that in an order ofheat-reduced viscosity and abrupt release of the mechanical pressure atthe inward terminus of the said nozzle orifice the coating compositionis resolved into the condition of a propelled free cloud therebyliberating a proportion of the volatile liquid comprised in the saidcoating composition while adhering to the said object the hlm-formingmaterial which bardens and becomes heat stable upon application.

' The said rotatable nozzle assemblies are so arranged that when mycoating `apparatus is being used to coat an object of the largest sizewhich it is capable of coating, the said nozzle assemblies are rotatedto a position wherein the extremities of the at pattern clouds ofcoating composition intersect each of those next adjacent approximately`at the outermost boundary of the work being coated. On the other hand,when my coating apparatus is being used to coat an object of thesmallest size which it is capable of coating, the said nozzle assembliesare rotated to a position wherein the flat pattern clouds of coatingcomposition are turned to resemble the blades of an air screw with theirdivergent terminals inwardly disposed at approximately the outermostboundary of the work being coated and their convergent terminalsoutwardly disposed at the nozzle orifices, When my coating apparatus isbeing used to coat objects of sizes intermediate to the twoaforementioned extremes, the said nozzle assemblies are rotated topre-determined p0- sitions so as to provide a lgiven slant or twist tothe at pattern clouds of coating composition, much in the same manner asthe pitch is changed on a variable pitch air screw, thereby to providethe maximally eicient pattern of the clouds of coating composition forcoating an object of given size.

It will immediately be seen that the rotated patterns for coatingrelatively small objects would tend to deposit more coating compositionon the object than the rotated patterns for coating relatively largeobjects because the object, moving axially relatively to my coatingapparatus, in the former circumstance would pass through a more extendeddistance of the cloud. However, this condition is controllable, and byregulating the speed of travel of the object -being coated, or themechanical pressure applied to the coating composition, or both, theamount of coating composition deposited on the object is regulatedquiteV simply to prevent too much or too little of the coatingcomposition being deposited on the object.

The rotation of the said rotatable nozzle assemblies may be synchronizedas in the form of my apparatus shown in FIG. VI and FIG. VII andexplained relative thereto, or the nozzle assemblies may be individuallycontrolled as in the form of my apparatus shown in FIG. II, FIG. III,and FIG. IV and explained relative thereto. Obviously, the form of myapparatus which utilizes the synchronized rotatable nozzle assemblies isbest adapted to the coating of objects possessing a circularcross-section. On the other hand, the form of my apparatus whichutilizes the individually controlled nozzle assemblies can coat objectsof circular cross-section equally well but is also adaptable for coatingobjects possessing an irregular cross-section by merely regulating therotation of the separate nozzle assemblies to different appropriatepositions.

Even further versatility may be achieved with my invention by changingthe number of nozzles which are operative at a particular time. It is tobe noted that each of the rotatable nozzle assemblies possesses its ownmechanical operative means for interrupting the flow of coatingcomposition to the nozzle orifice. These mechanical operative means maybe of the solenoid, pneumatic, or hydraulic types, but I have found thesolenoid type to be preferable from the standpoint of speed and facilityof operation.

Therefore, if my invention were constructed in a form comprising saytwelve separate nozzle assemblies, it will readily be seen that, becauseof the individual mechanical operative means which can be controllcdfromthe remote position, it can be used with say six, eight, ten, or twelvenozzles propelling clouds of coating composition, thereby utilizing thecapabilities of my apparatus efficiently through a widely variant rangein the size of the objects being coated.

In the form of my apparatus which I have shown in the accompanyingdrawings, the housing has six sides. However, this is not to beconstrued `as a limitation, for the housing may have more or less sides,or even be basically round in cross-section.

An important feature of the novelty of my invention is found in thearrangement of the structure comprising shut-off valves in closeproximity to the nozzles, thereby tion of operation. This arrangement ofthe shut-off mechanisms proximate to the nozzles, provides sensitive,immediately effective means of controlling the operation of the coatingapparatus, and affords a continuously present supply of the heatedcoating composition under the influence of mechanical pressure forinstant response to intermittent operation of the coating apparatusWithout the loss of coating composition.

I have operated the apparatus embodying my invention successfully byapplying a mechanical pressure of 400 pounds per square inch to theattenuated coating composition which was heated to 180 F. Under theseconditions the coating composition was resolved into a finely dispersedfree cloud upon issuance from the nozzles having orifice .011 inch indiameter, and no condensation of the coating composition into liquiddroplets during passage from the nozzles to the work was observable.When elongated objects of circular cross-section were passed through mycoating apparatus and intersected the propelled `free clouds of coatingcomposition under these conditions at a speed of 300 feet per minute,the resultant coating ou the objects was thin and uniform and the fiowthereof was negligible.

To determine the quantitative disposition of the coating compositionaccomplished by the apparatus embodying my invention operations wereconducted using a coating composition comprising 50 percent offilm-forming solid material and 50 percent of volatile carrying liquidby weight, the film-forming solid material comprising drying oils, dryercatalysts, and resins, and the volatile carrying liquid comprisingnaphtha. This constituency resulted in a coating composition comprising43 percent of nlm-forming solid material and 57 percent of volatilecarrying liquid by volume. The quantity of coating composition soconstituted which was used would have produced a wet coating on theobject 2.32 mils thick if the entire amount projected had reached theobject, however, actual measurement showed that the wet coating was only1.70 mils thick, from which it is concluded that a very substantialproportion of the volatile carrying liquid comprised in the coatingcomposition was liberated during passage from the nozzles to the object.The remainder of the volatile carrying liquid was liberated afteradherence to the object, resulting ina dry coating 1.00 mil thick.

Variations of the pressure, temperature, number of operating nozzles,rotation of nozzle assemblies, speed of relative movement, andconstituency of the coating composition may be made to effect a widerange of desired coating results.

Certain changes may be made in the arrangement set forth in thespecification and shown in the drawings, it being understood thatmodifications in the precise embodiment of the invention may be madewithin the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A device for applying a thin film of coating material to an object,comprising a housing yfor encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings being rotatable about theirlongitudinal axes disposed inwardly through and rotatably mounted on thesides of the said housing in uniform radial spaced relation, each ofsaid valve casings having an inlet for receiving coating material from asupply system and a valve seat therein, a nozzle non-rotatably mountedon each of the said valve casings -at its inward extremity andcommunicating with the said valve seat, each of said nozzles having anorifice capable of projecting a at spray and being so restricted thatunder pressure delivery of the said coating material therefrom issuancetends to resolve the said coating material into the condition of apropelled free cloud, and mechanical operative means cooperating witheach of the said valve casings and valve seats to interrupt the fiow ofcoating material to the said nozzles. f

2. A device for applying a thin film of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings disposed inwardly through androtatably mounted on the sides of the said housing in uniform radialspaced relation, each of said valve casings having an inlet forreceiving coating material from a supply system and a valve seattherein, a nozzle non-rotatably mounted on each of the said valvecasings at its inward extremity and communicating with the said valveseat, each of said nozzles having an orifice capable of projecting afiat spray and being so restricted that under pressure delivery of thesaid coating material therefrom issuance tends to resolve the saidcoating material into the condition of a propelled free cloud,mechanical operative means cooperating with each of the said valvecasings and valve seats to interrupt the fiow of coating material to thesaid nozzles, and rotating means for turning the said nozzles and Valvecasings labout their longitudinal axes.

3. A device for applying a thin film of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging 'relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings disposed inwardly through androtatably mounted on the sides of the said' housing in uniform radialspaced relation, each of said valve casings having an inlet forreceiving coating material from la supply system land a valve seattherein, a nozzle non-rotatably mounted on each of the said valvecasings at its inward extremity and communicating with the said valveseat.l each of said nozzles having an orifice capable of projecting aflat spray land being so restricted that under pressure delivery of thesaid coating material therefrom issuance tends to resolve the saidcoating material into the condition of a propelled free cloud,mechanical operative means cooperating with each of the said valvecasings and valve seats to interrupt the flow of coating material to thesaid nozzles, rotating means for turning the said nozzles and valvecasings about their longitudinal axes, and locking `means for securingthe said nozzles and valve casings in rotated positions.

4. A device for applying a thin film of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings being rotatable about theirlongitudinal 'axes disposed inwardly through and rotatably mounted onthe sides of the said housing in uniform radial spaced relation, each ofthe said valve casings having an inlet and outlet for coating materialand a valve seat therein, flexible conduits connecting the outlet ineach valve casing to the inlet of the next adjacent valve casingexcepting as between one certain pair of adjacent valve casings wherethe said flexible conduits are comprised in the supply lead and returncommunicating with a supply system for coating material, a nozzlenon-rotatably mounted on each of the said valve casings at its inwardextremity and communieating with the `said valve seat, each of saidnozzles having an orifice capable of projecting a fiat spray and beingso restricted that under pressure delivery of the said coating materialtherefrom issuance tends to resolve the said coating material into thecondition of a propelled free clou-d, and mechanical operative meanscooperating with each of the said valve casings `and valve seats tointerrupt the oW of coating material to the said nozzles.

5. A device for applying a thin film of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings being rotatable about theirlongitudinal axes disposed inwardly through and rotatably mounted on thesides of the said housing in uniform radial spaced relation, each of thesaid valve casings having an inlet and outlet for coating material and avalve seat therein, exible conduits connecting the outlet in each valvecasing to the inlet of the next adjacent valve casing excepting asbetween one certain pair of adjacent valve casings where the saidexible'conduits `are comprised in the supply lead and returncommunicating with a supply systern for coating material, a nozzlenon-rotatably mounted on each of the said valve casings at its inwardextremity and communicating with the said valve seat, eacn of saidnozzles having lan orifice capable of projecting a flat spray and beingso restricted that under pressure delivery of the said coating materialtherefrom issuance tends to resolve the said coating material into thecondition of a propelled free cloud, mechanical operative meanscooperating with each of the said valve casings and valve seats tointerrupt the ow of coating ymaterial to the said nozzles, and rotatingmeans for turning the said nozzles and valve casings about theirlongitudinal axes.

6. A device for applying a thin film of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings being rotatable about theirlongitudinal axes disposed inwardly through and rotatably mounted on thesides of the said housing in uniform radial spaced relation, each of thesaid valve casings having an inlet and outlet for coating material and avalve seat therein, flexible conduits connecting the outlet in eachvalve casing to the inlet of the next adjacent valve casing excepting asbetween one certain pair of adjacent valve casings Iwhere the saidflexible conduits are comprised in the supply lead and returncommunicating with a supply system for coating material, a nozzlenon-rotatably mounted on each of the said valve casings at its inwardextremity and communicating with the said valve seat, each of saidnozzles having an orifice capable o-f projecting a flat spray and beingso restricted that under pressure delivery of the said coating materialtherefrom issuance tends to resolve the said coating material into thecondition of a propelled free cloud, mechanical operative meanscooperating with each of the said valve casings and valve seats tointerrupt the tiow of coating material to the said nozzles, rotatingmeans for turning the said nozzles and valve casings about theirlongitudinal axes, and locking means for securing the said nozzles andvalve casings in rotated positions.

7. A device for applying a thin nlm of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings non-rotatably mounted on theoutside of the said housing in uniform radial spaced relation, each ofthe said valve casings having an inlet for receiving coating materialfrom a supply system and a valve seat therein, a nozzle being rotatableabout its longitudinal axis inwardly disposed through the side of thesaid housing rotatably mounted on each of the said valve casings at itsinward extremity and communicating with the said valve seat, each ofsaid nozzles having an orifice capable of projecting a flat spray andbeing so restricted that under pressure delivery of the said coatingmaterial therefrom issuance tends to resolve the said coating materialinto the condition of a propelled free cloud, and mechanical operativemeans cooperating with each of the said valve casings and valve seats tointerrupt the flow of coating material to the said nozzles.

8. A device for applying a thin lm of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings non-rotatably mounted on theoutside of the said housing in uniform radial spaced relation, each ofthe said valve casings having an inlet for receiving coating materialfrom a supply system and a valve seat therein, a nozzle inwardlydisposed through the side of the Said housing rotatably mounted on eachof the said valve casings at its inward extremity and communicating withthe said valve seat, each of said nozzles having a orifice capable ofprojecting a flat spray and being so restricted that under pressuredelivery of the said coating material therefrom issuance tends toresolve the said coating material into the condition of a propelled freecloud, mechanical operative means cooperating with each of the saidvalve casings and valve seats to interrupt the ow of coating material tothe said nozzles, and rotating means for turning the said nozzles abouttheir longitudinal axes.

9. A device for applying a thin lilm of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of Valve casings non-rotatably mounted on theoutside of the said housing in uniform radial spaced relation, each ofsaid valve casings having an inlet for receiving coating material from asupply system and a valve seat therein, a nozzle inwardly disposedthrough the side of the said housing rotatably mounted on each of thesaid valve casings at its inward extremity and communicating with thesaid valve seat, each of said nozzles having an orifice capable ofprojecting a flat spray and being so restricted that under pressuredelivery of the said coating material therefrom issuance tends toresolve the said coating material into the condition of a propelled freecloud, mechanical operative means cooperating with each of the saidvalve casings and valve seats to interrupt the ow of coating material tothe said nozzles about their longitudinal axes, rotating means forturning the said nozzles, and locking means for securing the saidnozzles in rotated positions.

10. A device for applying a thin film of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings non-rotatably mounted on theoutside of the said housing in uniform radial spaced relation, each Iofsaid valve casings having an inlet and outlet for coating material and avalve seat therein, rigid conduits connecting the outlet in each valvecasing to the inlet of the next adjacent valve casing excepting asbetween one certain pair of adjacent valve casings where the said rigidconduits are comprised in the supply lead and return communicating witha supply system for coating material, a nozzle being rotatable about itslongitudinal axes inwardly disposed through the side of the said housingrotatably mounted oneach of the said Valve casings at its inwardlyextremity and communicating with the said valve seat, each of saidnozzles having an orifice capable of projecting a Hat spray and being sorestricted that under pressure delivery of the said coating materialtherefrom issuance tends to resolve the said coating material into thecondition of a propelled free cloud, and mechanical operative meanscooperating with each of the said Valve casings and valve seats tointerrupt the flow of coating material to the said nozzles.

1l. A device for applying a thin lilrn of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings non-rotatably mounted on theoutside of the said housing in uniform radial spaced relation, each ofsaid valve casings having an inlet and outlet for coating material and avalve seat therein, rigid conduits connecting the outlet in each valvecasing to the inlet of the next adjacent valve casing excepting asbetween one certain pair of adjacent valve casings where the said rigidconduits are comprised in the supply lead and return communicating witha supply system for coating material, a nozzle being rotatable about itslongitudinal axes inwardly disposed through the side of the said housingrotatably mounted on each of the said valve casings at its inwardextremity and communicating with the said valve seat, each of saidnozzles having an orifice capable of projecting a iiat spray and beingso restricted that under pressure delivery of the said coating materialtherefrom issuance tends to resolve the said coating material into thecondition of a propelled free cloud, mechanical operative meanscooperating with each of the said valve casings and valve seats tointerrupt the flow of coating material to the said nozzles, and rotatingmeans for turning the said nozzles about their longitudinal axes.

12. A device for applying a thin lm of coating material to an object,comprising a housing for encircling an object in non-engaging relationthereto, a plurality of valve casings non-rotatably mounted on theoutside of the said housing in uniform radial spaced relation, each ofsaid valve casings having an inlet and outlet for coating material and avalve seat therein, rigid conduits connecting the outlet in each Valvecasing to the inlet of the next adjacent valve casing excepting asbetween one certain pair of adjacent valve casings where the said rigidconduits are comprised in the supply lead and return communicating witha supply system for coating material, a nozzle `being rotatable aboutits longitudinal axes inwardly disposed through the side of the saidhousing rotatably mounted on each of the said valve casings at itsinward extremity and communicating with the said valve seat, each ofsaid nozzles having an orifice capable of projecting a at spray andbeing so restricted that under pressure delivery of the said coatingmaterial therefrom issuance tends to resolve the said coating materialinto the condition of a propelled free cloud, mechanical operative meanscooperating with each of the said valve casings and valve seats tointerrupt the flow of coating material to the said nozzles about theirlongitudinal axes, rotating means for turning the said nozzles, andlocking means for securing the said nozzles in rotated positions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,710,953 Sullivan Apr. 30, 1929 1,754,740 Clarkson Apr. 15, 19301,964,790 Roberts Iuly 3, 1934 2,003,778 Willis June 4, 1935 2,114,723Paasche Apr. 19, 1938 2,410,626 Boudreau Nov. 5, 1946 2,434,176 PotthoffJan. 6, 1948 2,539,314 Murphy Jan. 23, 1951 2,670,240 Cunningham Feb.23, 1954 2,709,623 Glynn May 31, 1955 2,725,064 Tamminga Nov. 29, 19552,755,067 Williston July 17, 1956 2,815,298 Heley Dec. 3, 1957 2,861,897Hendrixson Nov. 25, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 889,917 Germany Sept. 14, 1953

